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In this round that was just completed, there were two wins. You get a blinkered view of the tournament when you only look at the Lions results in this competition.

Jamaica made 13/0 in their second innings to beat the Leewards. Marlon Samuels hammered 167 for Jamaica, and made Leewards follow-on with good bowling performances by Lambert, Bernard and Brown. Jamaica 12 points, Leewards 0.

Trinidad beat the Windwards by 51 runs. Good knocks by the Ganga brothers helped Trinidad to overcome a first innings deficit, and a first innings century by Fletcher, to secure victory. Despite Fletcher's 67 and a knock of 33 by James in the second innings, none of the other Windwards batsmen really came to the party, as they were dismissed for 172. Seamer Rayad Emrit took 4-40, young Cariah took three wickets, and Jaggernauth two.

In contrast, the Lions bowling once again failed to bowl out a side in their second innings, as the CCC comfortably secured a draw in their match, reaching 204-7, with Brathwaite and McClean not out on 11 each. But the draw had already been secured by a 99-partnership between Jamaicans Bonner (72) and Thomas (22). Woakes, Harris and Chambers took two wickets each....

Barbados reached 87-4 at stumps, as their match against Guyana also ended in a draw, Stoute on 24 and Chase on 18. Bess, Permaul, Fudadin and Johnson took one wicket each.

And by the way, Woakes is playing! Remember that due to the World Cup, the Caribbean territories are without the services of bowlers such as Roach, Rampaul, Benn, Miller, Russell, Dwayne Bravo, and now Bishoo. So, that seven matches your seven, beefy.

Putting the England Lions to one side, I do think there are a lot of poor wickets in the WIndies these days. I'd love to see them with a bit more pace and bounce in to try and encourage more quicks. The game needs more Kemar Roachs and Lasith Malingas. I also think quicker wickets would encourage the strokemakers more. The wickets are too stodgy for my liking.

That has definitely been true of the recent past, because when you look at the records, the leading wicket-takers have tended to be mediocre spinners while pacers have generally struggled on Caribbean pitches in the domestic four-day competition. This year, refreshingly, it has changed, as you will see when I put up the leading wicket-takers to date. I might do that tomorrow....

In the meantime, it's interesting to look at the points standings at the halfway stage:

Jamaica lead the standings with 36 points, followed by Trinidad on 33, and the Lions in third place on 30. In fourth place are the CCC on 27 points, with the Windwards close behind them on 23. Then, there is a gap between them and Guyana, who are sixth with 13 points, followed by Barbados on 12, and the Leewards in last place on just three points.

Jamaica and Trinidad have both won twice, while the LIons could only manage one win to date, and that against cellar team Leewards. It seems that while the Lions have batted well, they've had difficulty bowling sides out in the second innings, Leewards aside. Trinidad have had an up-and-down first half of the season, but Jamaica have been very impressive to date, having dominated all their matches, with a bowling attack that has generally delivered when needed. That said, Jamaica are yet to face pre-tournament favourites the England Lions, which will be their biggest test.

The CCC have punched above their weight, going into this tournament heavily tipped to finish with the wooden spoon, and the Windwards are another team that's still in the reckoning for a semi-final place. But Guyana's batting has been disappointing, while Barbados' bowling attack has failed to live up to its billing. All round, the Leewards have looked like a poor team, aside from one or two players....

So who are the up and coming young quicks over in the Windies, Shiv? I guess with some of the pitches you have out there are not exactly conducive to quick bowling, at a guess? The thing that I keep hearing is that there is still plenty of talent in the islands, but on many levels it is not being harnessed remotely effectively.

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"One of the greatest problems of our time is that many are schooled but few are educated" - Thomas More

So who are the up and coming young quicks over in the Windies, Shiv? I guess with some of the pitches you have out there are not exactly conducive to quick bowling, at a guess? The thing that I keep hearing is that there is still plenty of talent in the islands, but on many levels it is not being harnessed remotely effectively.

I heard Bish big up Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder on commentary the other day. Holder impressed me in the Under 19 world cup from what I saw but isn't express pace by any means. Gabriel is meant to be quicker.

I heard Bish big up Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder on commentary the other day. Holder impressed me in the Under 19 world cup from what I saw but isn't express pace by any means. Gabriel is meant to be quicker.

19 is no age though, if the method is sound and the athleticism is there a bit of muscle can turn a lively bowler into a quick one.

Digressing slightly, if the windies had actually managed to get their best players fit, their first choice team would actually be quite tasty. The likes of Barath, Dwayne Bravo and Taylor and Edwards would make them a fairly handy team. Could still be, particularly at test level.

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Quote:

"One of the greatest problems of our time is that many are schooled but few are educated" - Thomas More

19 is no age though, if the method is sound and the athleticism is there a bit of muscle can turn a lively bowler into a quick one.

Digressing slightly, if the windies had actually managed to get their best players fit, their first choice team would actually be quite tasty. The likes of Barath, Dwayne Bravo and Taylor and Edwards would make them a fairly handy team. Could still be, particularly at test level.

I do wonder what Duncan Fletcher could mould out of the kind of talent they have. Kraigg Brathwaite is another batsman to look out for, 18 years old and as Shiv's list shows is averaging 60 this season (42 over his career).

19 is no age though, if the method is sound and the athleticism is there a bit of muscle can turn a lively bowler into a quick one.

Digressing slightly, if the windies had actually managed to get their best players fit, their first choice team would actually be quite tasty. The likes of Barath, Dwayne Bravo and Taylor and Edwards would make them a fairly handy team. Could still be, particularly at test level.

Always think its a shame what happened to Lawson (what happened to Lawson?). Just read Langer's 5th book (and boy, should he have stopped at 4) and he had Lawson as one of the top tree quickest amn most frightening bowlers he ever faced. Its worrying that we will probably have to face them in a must win WC game, isnt it?

So who are the up and coming young quicks over in the Windies, Shiv? I guess with some of the pitches you have out there are not exactly conducive to quick bowling, at a guess? The thing that I keep hearing is that there is still plenty of talent in the islands, but on many levels it is not being harnessed remotely effectively.

In the past few years, the cupboard had been bare. But this year, the pace bowling dept looks promising. Gabriel and Pascal in particular are bowling very fast, and it's just a matter of time before they're in the WI team. The poster above is right - Holder is medium-fast at best, Darren Sammy pace, and he's still got a long way to go. Since being called for throwing, Lawson has deteriorated, and can't even make it into the Jamaica side, who have a another talented speedster in Jason dawes.

Rey, this is more due to this season's crappy batting than the pitch, as you'll see when Lions bat....
Guyana's batting woes continue, as they were dismissed for a mere 78 all out....

Woakes took 5-18, and there were three wickets for Harris, and two for Dernbach. The Lions were 42 without loss at the close, Kieswetter on 21 and Lyth on 17.

The CCC were 253-7 at stumps at the halfway stage of their match against Jamaica. Corbin topscored with 76, and the not out batsmen are Bonner (4) and McClean (15). Richardson and Brown have taken three wickets each so far.

With a first innings lead of just 19, Trinidad reduced Leewards to 30-2 at the close of the second day, Gabriel removing both Peters (8) and Williams (0). The not out batsmen are Jeffers (12) and Liburd (6).

Dowrich hit 56 not out and Holder 31, as Barbados made 341 all out, against Sebastien 6-97. In reply, the Windwards were 116-2 with two days to go, having lost Theophile for one and Browne for 12. Fletcher is 53 not out, and with him is Lesporis on 45.

Thanks to the good old Guyanese rain. The players should be familiar with the concept of rain ruining a match!
With one day to go, defending champs Jamaica were struggling on 133-3, still 220 runs behind the CCC in a battle for first innings points. The hosts lost leading run-getter Marlon Samuels for 13, as well as openers Hyatt (53) and Jackson (25), while the not out batsmen are Nash (14) and Lambert (12). McClean, Austin and Kantasingh have all taken a wicket so far....

Chasing 183 for victory, Trinidad were reeling on 75-5 at stumps, having lost Simmons (16), Darren Ganga (14), Ramdin (0) and Imran Khan (1). Sherwin Ganga is 35 not out, and with him is Emrit on one, while the main destroyer for the Leewards to date has been Martin with three wickets, while Athanaze has taken two. Of course, Trinidad are without Morton, who remains in jail with Willett.

Rain continues to ravage Guyana, but the Lions are making heavy weather of chasing the hosts' first innings total, limping to 68-3 at stumps, having lost Kieswetter (25), Lyth (18), and Stokes (1). The not out batsmen are Gale (4) and Bairstow (15), while Fudadin has taken two wickets so far.

The Windwards collapsed from 309-5 to 350 all out, but still gained a nine-run first innings lead over Barbados. Fidel Edwards signalled a welcome return to form, taking 5-77, while there were three wickets for Best and two for Collins. Barbados were eight without loss at stumps.